Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Summary of Contents for COMPANION SQR Series
- Page 1 USER MANUAL V 3.0 EN – 2019#40 www.companion.aero...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION REGISTRATION AND THE MYCOMPANION ACCOUNT GENERAL ADVICE ABOUT FLYING SPORT INTENDED USE AND SAFETY REGULATIONS Packing and inspection requirements Additional packing and inspection conditions Service time, entry into service and extension Water and seawater Other special conditions DESIGN FEATURES SQR –... - Page 3 8.1 Preflight check Releasing and throwing the reserve Disabling the paraglider and descending Landing 8.5 After landing checks PACKING General information Sorting the lines, preparing the canopy Verifying the layout Folding the canopy Matching the inner container width Matching the inner container length Putting the folded reserve into the inner container Stowing the lines Closing the inner container...
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Page 4: Introduction
▶ regularly repack it as described in this manual, ▶ deploy the reserve according to the instructions for your harness, ▶ maintain and look after your reserve, and the rest of your flying equipment, as described in this manual. The actual version of this manual can be downloaded on www. companion.aero/manual. We wish you safe flights and happy landings! The Companion Team www.companion.aero... -
Page 5: Registration And The Mycompanion Account
▶ You have access to all the relevant information about your product, can direct your questions to Companion Support and will receive important product updates. ▶ You can also record your repacks online and always retrieve your packing record online as a PDF. -
Page 6: General Advice About Flying Sport
3. GENERAL ADVICE ABOUT FLYING SPORT Taking part in flying sport requires appropriate training and a satisfactory understanding of the relevant equipment, as well as the necessary insurance and licensing. A pilot must be capable of correctly assessing the weather conditions before a flight takes place. Before every flight, all items of flying equipment must be checked for damage and airworthiness. Every pilot bears sole responsibility for all risks associated with flying sport, includ- ing injury or death. Neither the manufacturer nor seller of a reserve parachute can be held responsible for, nor can guarantee the safety of the pilot. -
Page 7: Intended Use And Safety Regulations
If the reserve has been strongly compressed when packed in order to achieve mini- mum volume, we recommend a reduced repack interval of 6 months! If you are uncertain about the effects of these factors please contact a qualified organisation. To review your repacks, packing intervals, inspection and repair history you can refer to the online record that was automatically set up at product registration (www.companion.aero/register). -
Page 8: Service Time, Entry Into Service And Extension
Service time, entry into service and extension The expected service time of a reserve is 10 years. Even if the reserve has never been used, it must be replaced after this timespan. The official service time of a reserve starts when it is first installed, known as the Entry into Ser- vice date. This date must be noted on the certification label on the bridle, by whoever installs the reserve. -
Page 9: Water And Seawater
Water and seawater After a landing in water the reserve should be repacked, but only after it has completely dried out in the fresh air. For best drying hang up your reserve upside down in a symmetric state. If any part of the reserve is not completely dry (canopy or lines), the complete device can shrink asymmetrically! Never use a heat source to speed up the drying process. Seawater: if any part of the reserve gets wet with seawater the whole reserve must be rinsed sever- al times in fresh water, then dried. - Page 10 A factory inspection should only be carried out by a certified organisation. Your local dealer can advise on this subject. To be sure that the correct materials and techniques are used, any repair should be done by the manufacturer.
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Page 11: Design Features
5. DESIGN FEATURES SQR – Square Round: the best of two worlds The Hybrid SQR founds a new generation of reserve parachutes, which combines the advantages of a classic round canopy with those of the cross parachute. An innovative and forward-looking technology has been so created. -
Page 12: Structural Details
Structural details Packing Loops on topsail Canopy Air-Jets Suspension Lines Base Lines Centre Lines Bridle Line Bridle Fig 1 – Structural view from below... - Page 13 BRIDLE At one end this connects the reserve to the harness, at the other to the canopy suspension lines. THE SUSPENSION LINES can be divided into two main groups: Base lines (all the same length to simplify packing) connect the bridle to the edge of the canopy. Centre lines connect the bridle to near the middle of the canopy.
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Page 14: Hangglider Swivel
Hangglider swivel Fig 2 – Swivel device fitted to the SQR Hangglider version SQR Hangglider versions come with a swivel included in the bridle (connection line). This item is tested and certified up to 5000 kg breaking load. The swivel effectively prevents a spinning wing from twisting the parachute suspension lines. This is an essential safety factor! The SQR Hangglider versions have the swivel device fitted at the factory. A later inclusion of a swivel is not permitted! If a reserve does not have a built-in swivel, it is a paraglider version. Conversion for use with a hangglider is not permitted. To maximise safety against a carabiner or other equipment failure, we recommend that the reserve be connected also directly to the hangglider harness by a suitable connector link (minimum break- ing load 2500kg). -
Page 15: Installing The Reserve
6. INSTALLING THE RESERVE We recommend that installing a reserve in a harness be done by a qualified organisation. If any part of a harness/container/reserve combination is new or has been changed, the correct installation and deployment of the harness/container/reserve combination MUST be proven by a test release, also known as a Compatibility Test - See details in chapter 7. Every reserve/harness/container combination has its own characteristics. -
Page 16: Installing In The Sqr Inner Container
The packing section (Chapter 9) of the manual gives detailed instructions how to do this. A look at the Companion online video about packing and folding to size is strongly recommended: https://youtu.be/f6M1KMbGZ70. - Page 17 The reserve handle to inner container connecting line, should never be under ten- sion, until the reserve is released from the harness compartment. This line must have enough free length, to allow the reserve handle to first activate the release system (e.g.
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Page 18: Installing In An External (E.g. Front) Container
The certified reserve compartment volume of the harness (see manufacturer’s manual), must comply to the certified packing volume of the reserve! The reserve’s certified packing volume is shown on the certification label of every SQR reserve. To confirm that the reserve has been correctly installed, a compatibility test is abso- lutely essential in case of a new installation or if any element of the complete har- ness/container/reserve system has been changed! Installing in an external (e.g. front) container There are scenarios, where an external container could be the best solution to install a reserve, like: ▶... - Page 19 A compatibility test is mandatory! If the packed Companion reserve has to be taken from the SQR inner container, sometimes a partial or full repack of the reserve is required, so that it matches the shape/size of the container to be...
- Page 20 The packing section (Chapter 9) of the manual gives detailed instructions how to do this. A look at the Companion online video about packing and folding to size is strongly recommended: https://youtu.be/f6M1KMbGZ70. To confirm that the reserve has been correctly installed, a compatibility test is abso-...
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Page 21: Avoiding Canopy Damage In The Harness/Container Compartment
Avoiding canopy damage in the harness/container compartment When fitting the reserve into the harness, make sure that the inner container is neat- ly closed, so that the reserve fabric is completely protected from abrasion. Direct contact of the reserve canopy with rough surfaces like velcro or sharp details (e.g. -
Page 22: Connecting The Reserve To The Harness/External Container
In addition the correct loop contact, it must be secured using the supplied neoprene protection to ensure that no loop slipping occurs (fraying hazard!). These findings are based on an extensive test series from 2017, which Companion carried out with the cooperation of ADVANCE, the German rope manufacturer Edelrid and the PMA (Paraglider Man- ufacturers Association). Testing was carried out using the most common combination of materials,... - Page 23 Incorrect looping technique can cause weakening or complete failure of harness con- nection line and/or reserve bridle in the case of a real reserve deployment. We cannot make a general statement about the strength of direct looping connections when ap- plied to other harness brands combined with Companion reserves.
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Page 24: Compatibility Test
7. COMPATIBILITY TEST If any part of a harness/container/reserve combination is new or has been changed, the correct installation and deployment of the harness/container/reserve combination MUST be proven by a test release, also known as a Compatibility Test. The harness/container/reserve combination should be tested in as realistic a situation as possible. The pilot sits in a normal flying position in the harness hanging by its carabiners. Anything else is inadequate! A satisfactory test requires that the reserve is released by the pilot in this situation! A safe reserve... -
Page 25: Compatibility Test Issues
Simulated throwing is part of a training exercise. This test only requires you to pull the reserve out of its stowage as if in flight. Provided you also have the short pieces of packing line for closing the harness compartment or front container, you can do it yourself – easily. Always have them in your harness pocket in case your compartment opens by mistake (on a mountain, perhaps). - Page 26 ▶ Ergonomic issues - like pilot’s arm length, range of motion, etc. - can play a decisive role in the success of reserve release. Small people with short arms can sometimes have difficulties when it comes to releasing a reserve. It is therefore important that the same pilot who will fly with the equipment makes the compatibility test! It can also help in these problem cases if various harnesses and different flying positions are explored, in search of a solution for the compatibility test. External container is also an alternative. Three-way compatibility is the goal: pilot(he/she)/harness/reserve! ▶ Under high g-loads (> 3g, e.g. in a spiral) reserve-throwing becomes more challenging. For training, this situation can be simulated with the G-Force Trainer.
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Page 27: Using The Reserve
8. USING THE RESERVE Preflight check For maximal safety the following general checks should be carried out before every flight, in addi- tion to the normal before-takeoff checks: ▶ Reserve handle correctly in place on the harness/external container, ▶ No visible damage that could affect airworthiness, ▶ Reserve compartment correctly closed/external (e.g. front) container closed and secured to the harness. ▶ As soon as practical after take off, it is recommended that you put a hand on your release handle. This reminds you where it is, and mentally rehearses the first part of the throwing sequence Releasing and throwing the reserve In a real emergency, stick to the following steps: Take hold of the reserve handle firmly with a hand, ▶... - Page 28 The ideal pull direction varies with the construction of the harness or external con- tainer in combination with your reserve and the attachment point used on the inner container. A direct sideways (not upwards, forwards or back) pull works at best on most systems.
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Page 29: Disabling The Paraglider And Descending
Disabling the paraglider and descending After the reserve opens you have a short time window (typically 3-5 seconds), when the paraglider is unloaded. If the paraglider regains airflow and airspeed, and wants to fly again, you may be faced with an increasingly difficult handling problem. Control forces become higher and the chance of a line twist rises. It is strongly recommended that the pilot IMMEDIATELY does what he can to disable the paraglider’s desire to fly! The best tactic is to wind in both brakes with symmetric wraps, until the wing is completely stalled. As many wraps as it takes. This allows the reserve to stabilise itself in a vertical flightpath with a minimum of aerodynamic disturbances, all of which would encourage unhelpful behaviours such as swinging, scissoring, downplaning or acquiring high tracking speeds. -
Page 30: Landing
can encourage severe swing activity as the 2-wing combination tries to find a new compromise. This upset will include a higher rate of descent, and this situation massively raises the risk of land- ing injury. Landing Landing technique To minimise the risk of injury as you hit the ground, the pilot should adopt the Parachute Landing Fall (PLF) technique where possible. The basics: legs and feet together – not locked; slightly bent, with modest bracing. -
Page 31: After Landing Checks
An unsuitable inner container compromises the airworthiness of your flying equipment! After landing checks After any deployment a check and correct repack is definitely necessary! If the possibility of damage to your reserve system cannot be ruled out a complete inspection and check must be carried out before the reserve can be packed again. If there is any doubt you should contact a qualified person. -
Page 32: Packing
9. PACKING General information ▶ In this chapter, we will describe the methods, procedures and practices used to pack or re-pack your SQR reserve. ▶ Alternatively you can check out our online packing video: https://youtu.be/f6M1KMbGZ70. Every 12 Months the reserve must be opened, aired and repacked! If the reserve has been strongly compressed when packed in order to achieve mini- mum volume, we recommend a reduced repack interval of 6 months! -
Page 33: Sorting The Lines, Preparing The Canopy
Sorting the lines, preparing the canopy Fig 5 – Loose canopy prepared for airing... - Page 34 Airing 24 Hours Pull or shake the lines apart and shake out the canopy so it lies open and loose. It’s best if the canopy is allowed to air for 24 hours before being repacked (see Fig 5). Checking the lines The lines should be checked for twists, loop-throughs or line-overs and these corrected.
- Page 35 Fig 6 – Packing line and blue loops, red panel on top Use of packing loops Thread a packing line through the blue packing loops in their number order. The first loop is above panel (see Fig 6). Check that all the packing loops have been threaded in the correct order; 1 to 8 (SQR 100, SQR 120) or 1 to 12 (SQR 140, SQR 160, SQR 220).
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Page 36: Verifying The Layout
Verifying the layout Fig 7 – Left and right suspension lines at the connection line (bridle), centre lines in the middle left, green right Secure the end of the bridle to a fixed object. Take the suspension lines, red the corresponding hands, and walk them up to the canopy, keeping them under some tension and separating them as you go. Run the lines through your fingers to check for knots, damage or foreign objects. - Page 37 Fig 8 – Left suspension lines, centre lines and right suspension lines at the canopy: red corner (panel) on top Give the canopy a shake when you reach it, the result should look like shown on Fig 8. The suspension lines at the canopy seams should be on the left, the green suspension lines should be on the right.
- Page 38 Fig 9 – Ready to begin red panels Arrange the canopy as shown on Fig 9 with the at the top, and lay it on a clean and flat packing surface; a long packing table is perfect. When laid out correctly for packing the suspension red line attachment tape lines; and lines will run parallel from the bridle.
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Page 39: Folding The Canopy
The bridle should always be tensioned. Take particular care that the bridle does not tangle with or go through the suspension lines! This would encourage line-overs! If you have to pack outdoors, a large sheet (as used by skydivers and base jumpers) will prevent packing dust, grass and grit into your reserve. The use of packing aids such as a line holder, packing clamps, packing rods (for straight folds) and/ or packing weights can make packing safer, faster, easier and neater, but hey are not necessary. - Page 40 SQR 80 SQR 140 SQR 100 SQR 160 SQR 120 SQR 220 Fig 10 – First, all the right side over the left, then folding Fig 11 – Colour sequences of SQR sizes. can begin Text refers to 100/120 sizes...
- Page 41 Fig 12 – Pull out the top and bottom corners for a Fig 13 – Bottom edges in a straight line flat result When you lay each panel out make sure the lines stay in the centre (line holder) and that the folded panels are pulled flat. Make sure the panels lie neatly one on the other, and that the bottom edges make a straight line. It is worth recommending, that you first hold a bottom corner of each panel in position (1.), then pull out the top corner (2.) for a flat result (Fig 12).
- Page 42 Fig 14 – Prepared side fixed in place; left side now on top Repeat the same procedure for the other side – without disturbing the prepared side underneath. To hold the prepared side together, you can use packing weights or packing clamps.
- Page 43 Fig 15 – Middle of the canopy bulging out Fig 16 – Corrected canopy and centred lines The gathered canopy apex makes a square pocket between the centre lines. Sometimes this pokes/ bulges out of the centre during the folding process (Fig 15). This pocket should be pushed back between the centre lines towards the packing loops, at the top-centre of the canopy (Fig 16).
- Page 44 been pulled to the side - between panels - move it back to the middle by holding the centre lines together at the canopy edge and/or through the Air-Jet opening (Fig 16).
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Page 45: Matching The Inner Container Width
Matching the inner container width Fig 17 – Adapting to the inner container width Check that the bottom edges of the canopy form a straight line. The width of the prepared canopy should be symmetrically divided by the width of the container, starting from the central width as a basis. - Page 46 Fig 18 – Right side will go underneath – folded on top first We start with the side, that will go underneath when the S-folds are finished! First fold the entire right side over the left (again) keeping it as undisturbed as possible, bearing in mind that the central width is now our reference – not the wing centreline. As shown on Fig 19 the right side will go eventually underneath, but you can symmetrically change the sides, as long as the end result is symmetrically correct.
- Page 47 (Fig 19) S-fold the right side on top of the central width, then rotate and slide this section under- neath the central width, keeping it in shape (Fig 20). You can check out the online packing video if you are stuck on this step: https://youtu.be/f6M1KMbGZ70.
- Page 48 Fig 21 – Ready for the left side to be folded on top Fig 22 – S-folds complete Now fold the remaining side on top – 3 S-folds as shown on Fig 22 and below.
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Page 49: Matching The Inner Container Length
Matching the inner container length Fig 23 – Adapting to the container length for the remain- Fig 24 – Upwards S-folds to match the container length. Remove the packing line!!! ing folds The canopy is now ready to go into the container. Measure the S-fold length required from the can- opy edge upwards (Fig 23). -
Page 50: Putting The Folded Reserve Into The Inner Container
Do not forget to remove your packing line! A forgotten line will result in an opening malfunction and could be fatal! Putting the folded reserve into the inner container Fig 25 – Folded canopy in the inner container Lay the folded canopy into the container (Fig 25). Pull up the flaps to make a neat and firm package. Hold the folded canopy edge while doing this, to keep it in shape. -
Page 51: Stowing The Lines
Stowing the lines Fig 26 – Lines, pins (turnposts) and figures of eight Release the bridle tension. Take particular care that the bridle does not tangle with or go through the suspension lines! To stow the suspension lines it is easiest, to use a board with correctly spaced pins/posts. The pins should be set at a lateral distance equivalent to the width of the inner container, e.g. - Page 52 3 – 3 3 – 3 3 – 3 4 – 4 4 – 4 5 – 5 2 – 2 3 – 2 3 – 3 3 – 3 4 – 3 5 – 4 2 – 2 2 –2 3 –...
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Page 53: Closing The Inner Container
Closing the inner container When bundles have been stowed you should have around 90 cms of lines remaining, for closing the SQR inner container. If you have to use a different inner container follow the instructions provided by its manufacturer. The same reserve folding principles apply, but the dimensions may have to be adjusted, and the closure line length required may be different. To continue: lay the line bundles on top of the folded canopy (Fig 28). Fig 29 –... - Page 54 Fig 30 – Line bundles arranged, checking the diameter of the closure loop Arrange the line bundles under the container flaps, they should lay neatly inside the container. The closure line loop in the red bungee should have a length of 5-6 cms / 2-3 finger widths (Fig 30). A significant deviation from this loop size can prevent opening! A long loop can get blocked, a short one can open unintentionally (inside the harness or before throwing).
- Page 55 Fig 31 – Line loops to close the securing container cover Close the securing container cover of the SQR inner container, by two line loops of the same size (5-6 cms / 2-3 finger widths) as the previous one inside (Fig 31). Different elastic bands are used for this, and they are first pulled through the eyelets on the cover. Other containers may have a differ- ent closure system – follow their instructions in the corresponding users manual. Other closure line length may be applied.
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- Page 57 Fig 32 – Reserve packing complete Your SQR reserve has now been repacked, and is ready to go in the harness (Fig 32). For the installation procedure see chapter 6. If you disconnected the reserve for packing, don't forget to reconnect it! Enter the date (online) in your pack and inspection record.
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Page 58: Periodic Inspection
10. PERIODIC INSPECTION Every 24 Months the SQR reserve must have a periodic inspection and this event entered (online) in the packing and inspection record. This periodic check/inspection is a visual procedure. It should be carried out by a trained person in a clean, well-lit place. -
Page 59: Checking The Bridle
10.3 Checking the bridle Inspect the bridle for damage and abrasion, external wear and fraying! Check for the presence of the certification label attached to the bridle line. Confirm the serial number and the Entry into Service date. Check that you don't exceed the maximum allowed service time of the reserve (see chapter 4.3). The SQR handgglider version has a swivel built into the bridle. Check the swivel for condition. If the swivel is bent, cracked, damaged or does not rotate freely, it must be changed by the manufacturer. - Page 60 Any damage found during a periodic check must be repaired! To make sure that the correct materials and techniques are used, every repair should be done by the manu- facturer!
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Page 61: Technical Data
11. TECHNICAL DATA Model Light 80 Light 100 Light 120 (PG&HG) Surface area 20.3 25.4 25.4 32.4 32.4 37.8 42.0 61.9 Minimum load Maximum load Sink rate at max. load Weight 1258 1534 1171 1707 1927 2357 Packed volume 1.8 – 2.8 3.0 –... -
Page 62: Storing
12. STORING The reserve should always be kept in a cool, dry, dark place. Oil, paint, solvents, acids and other harmful substances should not be stored close to the reserve. To maintain product lifespan avoid unnecessary exposure to direct sunlight, heat and humidity. For maximum operating safety over its whole lifetime, always handle and look after your SQR reserve carefully. -
Page 63: Support And Spare Parts
14. ENVIRONMENT AND RECYCLING Ecological aspects were taken into account during development and manufacture of Companion products, for example choice of materials and cutting for minimum waste. A Companion reserve system consists mainly of man-made fibres with a Polyamide, Polyurethane and Polyethylene base, they do not need special disposal treatments. At the end of its life you can dispose of your reserve in a normal recycling facility, as plastics. -
Page 64: Something To Think About
Many pilots do not give their reserve a moment’s thought. Often they have no idea what device is "hidden" in their harness. The reserve is not repacked frequently within the required time interval, or it is just too old anyway. We would like to encourage our customers to get to know their reserve and develop confidence in it. Although seldom seen, the reserve is an important part of every paraglider pilot’s safety-manage- ment system. We wish you safe flights and happy landings! The Companion Team www.companion.aero... - Page 65 Manufacturer EVOTEC Kft. Munkácsy Mihály Str. 8, H 7695 Mecsenknádasd, Hungary Distribution ADVANCE Thun AG Uttigenstrasse 87, CH 3600 Thun, Switzerland Service & Info www.companion.aero info@companion.aero Companion is a Joint Venture between &...
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